Kerf-cutting machine



Sept. 4,1945: v E. J. DOBERSTEIN ,0

REEF-CUTTING MACHINE Fild Oct. 21. 1942 9 SheetsSheet 1 I IN VEN TOR. 4 fEDWAPD-LDOBERSTEIN AT TORN: Y

Sept. 4, 1945. E. J. DOBERSTEIN 2,334,033.

KERF-CUTTING mourns Filed Oct. 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 QM m m III-'lll'lulII-ll'l'lllll lull-IIIIYIII'I-l-ll lull l fownnJDozrmzrm? Army/Viv p 1945. E. J. oceans-ram 2,384,083

KERF-GUTTING MACHINE l iled Oct. 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i m s, 3

& INVENTOR.

0 WA RD J D an 05m Armmzy ig to Sept. 4, 1945. E. J. DOBERSTEIN KEEP-CUTTING- MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 v9 3 mm Filed Oct. 21, 1942 lllll Ill.

ENTOR. E'pmav J. .Dosrmrrm BY QZJLK Arman/1r Sept. 4, 1945- E. J. DOBERSTEIN KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21," 1942' 9 SheetsSheet 7 m n v W 0 J m w wow , nwmzzy,

Sept; E. J. DOBERST EI N 2,384,083

KERF-CUT'EPING MACHINE Fihd Oct. 21, 1942 1 9 Shun-Shoot 8 fie. /0 M i 7 3'7) /2 4 Fl r- 12 77 2 if. F

l I l I i i i {l H H g l I? i 2 M h I I |I l l: r l; I i P /2 i INVENTOR. l .E'n WARD JDoBm STE i I By 7 Tfii Il5 ATTORNEY p 1945; E. J. DOBERSTEIN 2,384,083

( KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1942 9 SheetsSheet 9 STEERING V F19. I5

RELIEF Y VALVE 15 f 24o 239 258 I T D INVENTOR. I u IIT& I I j' EDWARD JDoarmrmv STEERING] as? TRAMM/NG ufr/lv M Arum/v17 I from Patented Sept. 4, 1945 In. J. Dobersteln, Blue Island, nt, assignor is Goodman Manufacturing Company, CUM" 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 21, 1942, Serial). 482,789 Y 21 Claims. (01.26%28),

This invention relates to improvements in kericutting machines and has as its nrincli objects;

to provide a new andimproved iorm oi' keri-cutting machine of the rubber-tire wheel mounted type.

Heretoiore, keri-cutting machines mounted on rubber-tired wheels have been provided with a cutter bar mounted on a turntable, and the bar has been fed across the coal face by turning movement of the turntable about its axis. Due to the shifting of weight on the supporting truck for the turntable as the cutter bar swings lateral- 1y across the forward end of its supporting truck,

the tires on one side oi, the truck will iiex' as the cutter bar passes thereover and extends laterally therebeyond. This causes tilting of the cutter bar in the coal face which results in binding of the cutter" bar, and also causes the kerfvcut by the cutter bar to be inclined with respect to the horizontal, making it diflicult to withdraw the cutter bar upon completion of the transverse cut with.

out binding.

The keri-cutting machine of my present invention has as its objects to overcome these difliculties by providing all four supporting wheels oi the kert cutting machine with mountings-so'they 3 will turn at right angles to the body of the masupport the machine for chine P p r and movement in a erse or a longitudinal direction. Y

A more speciiic obiect oi. my invention is to provide a rubber-tired mounted machine having .a rigid projecting cutter bar and having the supportin wheels mounted to feed the machine and cutter bar longitudinally into the coal face and transversely thereacross, together with independent power operated means iordriving th supporting wheels.

Othe

e to time as thetollowing specification proceeds and with reierenee to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l is a plan view or a kart-cutting ma- 'b r I o sect. o my invention Wm 40 verse sectional view drawn substantially to the show certain details of the elevating and'guide means for the cutting element;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation .01 the front part or the machine shown in Figure 1 with certain other parts broken away and shown :in longitudinal section than are showninFigureaZand 3; v

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the irontpart oi the machine shown in Figure 1, illustrating cer-v tain details oi the drive to the cutter chains;

Figure 6 is-an'enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the-rear part oi'the machine shown in'Figure l, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shownin longitudij;

nal section in order to more clearly illustrate the drive to the discharge 'conveyer;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view or the front part of the machine shown in Figure l, with certain rts broken away and certain other parts shown n horizontal section;

Figure 8 is an enlarged i'ragmentaryplan vi w o! the rear part'oi thev machine shown in Figure;

l, 'with certain broken away and certain rear conveyer;

I Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 1-0 of Figure 1, but slewin the'cutting element in an elevated position; I

25 other parts in horizontal section in order n to illustrate certain details of the drive v to the Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional" view taken substantially along line "-1 [of Fig ure 1, but drawn to a smaller scale thanl'is re 35 Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure 10 and taken lie-ll of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary transsubstantially along line along line ll--ll of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is an enlarged partial fragmentary chine constructed in comma with my in em plan view of, the forward -part of the machine on, with certain mm brpken ad f with certain parts broken away and certain other broken tially longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the central part 0! the-machine, with certain other parts broken. away and shown in longitudiparts shown in horizontal section in order to mprecleaflyiilustrate' certain details of the drive to one of the front track wheels; 4

Figure 14 is an enlarged partial fragmentary an view of the rear part of the machine shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and oertain'other parts shown in horizontal section --in order to show certain details 01' construction of the discharge conveyer;

nal section than are shown in Figure 1, in order to ID Figure 15 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the operation of the machine in a mine room; I

Referringnow -to'thegdetails of the embod i--. ment of my invention illustrated in the drawings,

the machine generally comprises an elongated cutter frame I having a plurality of parallel horizontally spaced cutter bars H, II projecting forwardly therefrom and rigidly mounted therein the wheelhousings 21, 21. "ing' is mounted in a wheel supporting frame 3| of said front wheels 25, 25 is mounted in a wheel housing 21 =on an axle 28, which wheel housin in turn is mounted in a wheel suporting frame 29, for pivotal movement with respect to said frame about a vertical axis extending through the central portion of the wheel. The rear wheels 26, 26 are each mounted in-a wheel housing 30 similar to the'wheel housings 21, 21, and

in the same manner the wheels'25, 25 are mounted Said wheel hous- ..-similar to the wheel supporting frame 29, for pivon. Each of said cutter bars has a'cutter bit carrying cutter chain l2 guided for orbital movement thereabout and movable into a cuttings pason said wheel supporting frames, as well as the ..drives to said wheels and wheel housings, for

sageway l3 formed in said frame and extending along opposite sides of said cutter bar (see Fig: ures 1 and 9). extensible chute-lltclescopically mounted in the advance side thereof, which has a deflector l5 on its forward end, adapted to: engage and follow the coal face during cutting across a. coal.

face, to collect the 'cuttingsdischarged by-said Said cuttings passageway has "an otal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis extending through the central portion DI said wheel. The mountings of said wheels on said wheel housings and of said wheel housings e as this spe ciflc'ationproceeds.

A feeding means auxiliary to the wheels 25,

I and, 26 is provided to aid said wheels in feedend of said cuttings passageway in a manner similar to thatshown and described in, a prior application' SerialNo; 402,052, filed -by Thomas Pray on July 12, 1941,-no|w Patent No. 2,310,314, and no part. of my present invention so not here i in shown/.er-described in detail. Saidjdischarge 'conveyeri extends along the bottom of the cutter frame [0 and is provided with an inclined ver- 7 tically adiustabledischarge portion II, which extends beyond the-rear end of saidframe, for discharging the cuttings into a suitable receptacle such as a conveyer ora mine car.

As herein'shown, three cutter bars vided. out out a complete coal seam, if desired, or where the 'coal seam: is too thick'todo' this practically,

H are prosaid'bars may'be elevated as a unit to cut-out Said cutter bars may be so spaced as to one portion of the coal seam with one lateral cut, and may be lowered tocutout the remainder of the seam with a second lateral cut.

The lower. cutter bar II is mounted on the lower portion of the cutter frame l0 and is secured thereto by means-of a bolt l8 threaded in the lower end" of a hollow spacing. member l9 Said spacing member extends- (see Figure '9). within acentral open portion of said cutter bar and also serves as a clamping :member to. clamp said cutter Zbar inposition. The intermediate and upper cutter bars II are secured to said.

frame'by'meansof a bolt 20 threaded into a clamping member 2i, engaging the lower" side ofthe head of said boltengages the upper side of said clamping member22 to hold said clamping member in engagement with: said .upper cutter bar.:;Said bolt also extends through a spacing member. 23 vertically spacingthe .intermediate.-

I The cutterframe. I01 is'mounted on .a. pair of and upper cutter bars;

front-rubber-tired ,wheels- 25,- 25 and a pair of rear rubber-tired wheels 28-, 28, for vertical adjustmentwith respectto said wheels, to vary the cutting plane of the cutter bars II, II. Each ing the cutter bars II, II into or across the coal face. Said .feeding..means includes a pair of winding drums '33, 33 having flexible feeding members 34, 3 4 thereon, mounted on opposite sides of the cutter frame ill, just forwardly of a drive motor 35, for. driving said winding drums by power. r.

The drive from the motor 35 to the winding drums 33, 33 is somewhat similar to that shown and. described in Patent No. 2,075,870, which issuedto William W; Sloane on April 6, 1937, so.

said shaft'meshes with and drives a worm gear II on atransversely extending sleeve 43; Said sleeve forms a drivemeans forla pair of coaxial plural speed; planetary gear reduction devicesv 44, 44 arranged on opposite sides thereof (see Figure 11). Said planetaries form no part of my present invention and are similar to those disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,075,870, 50 need not be shown or described in detail herein, excepting to state that said planetaries are ar ranged to provide an independent plural speed drive to each of the winding drums 33, 33 through separate shafts 45, 45 which have their adjacent ends coaxially but independently mounted-within opposite e'nds'of the'sleevef43 Thus either winding drum 33 can be driven from the motor 35 at either a high frictionally'controlled positioning speed or a low frictionally controlled feeding" speed, or may oe-disconnected therefrom so as to be rotated under the control of a friction band 41, engageable with said drum in the usual manner, to retard the unwinding thereof.

-The' drive to the cutter chains l 2, I2 includes a bevel pinion 55 on the forward end of the longitudinal shaft 39, which meshes with and drives a bevel gear 56 on the-upper end of a vertical Y shaft 51. Said vertical shaft is mounted'ona bearing. support member 58, which in turn is mountedon and extends throughv a 'boss 59; formed integral with the cutter frame 10. A pair of vertically spaced sprockets 60, illfherein shown as b'eing'integrally-formed and keyed on a common; sleeve 8 I, are mounted coaxiallyof said shaft on the outsideof the 'bearing support'member 58, on ball bearings 82, '62 having supporting enpropelling all of the cuttings onto the :receiving end of said conveyer, .it being understood that u e: p

on thereargends of the supportgagement with the inside of m nes".

sleeve and sprockets are driven from the lower end of the vertical shaft l1, by-means of a trans- I versely extending drive member ll, secured to the lower end of saidishaft l1 and having driving engagement with the lower end of said'sleeve II.

A cutter chain I 2 guided in the intermediate arms "'2, III and herein shown as projecting cutter bar ll meshes with the upperqsprocket I.

tion therewith. Said last mentioned sleeve "I! .is Journaled on a depending bearing support member I! on ball bearings 10, .II. A sprocket H is herein shown as being formed integrally with the lower end of said sleeve "and meshes with the lower cutter chain l-2, for 'driving said cutter chain about its associated cutter bar.

The sleeve .1 forms a drive means fora coaxial vertical shaft'll, iournaled within the dependingbearing support member ll. The drive from said sleeve tosaid shaft includes a-drive member II securedto the lower end oi? said shaft and having driving en agement at its ends with the lower ends of said sleeves O1 and II. Acutter chain drive sprocket I! is Joumaled on the outside of the upper end of the bearing support member I! on a ball bearing Ila and is driven from the upper end of said shaft 12 by means of a drive member 12a, keyed to the upper end of said shaft. Said sprocket .Il meshes with and drives the upper chain I2 about cutter bar I l.

It should here be noted with reference to l 'igure 5 that the upper and lower cutter chains 12 turn about their drive sprockets .at the receiving end of the conveyer II, but that'the intermediate cutter chain extends over the receiving end of said conveyer asubstantial distance, Ithus carrying the cuttings discharged from said upper cutter chain onto said conveyer and aiding :in

when cutting out an entire seam of coal, the entire cuttings passageway II is filled with mined coal from its bottom substantially to its top.

The dischargeconveyer I. is herein shown as being of an ordinary form of iilight conveyer. including a pair of parallel spaced endless chains ll having spaced flights", It carried therebetween. Said chains are guidedin the lower portion oi the cutter frame II and form a :means formoving material along the upper side of a bottomplate ll of said conveyer and upwardly along theinclined elevating portion ll thereof,

to and around :drive' sprockets 12," mounted adjacent opposite ends of'a transverseshaftlljour- .naled at the rear end of said elevating portion of said conveyer.

The inclined elevating portion II of the conveyer It is herein shown as being mounted for vertical adjustment about a transverse axis coaxial with a pair of bearing bosses II, II secured its associated and housing member III which is pivotally' -'-mounted in one side of the rear elevating porto and extending inwardly of .a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly projecting parallel supp rting arms II, II, mounted on and proJectingJrom opposite sides of the casing for the motor II. 1Baid bearing bosses form a support for said elevating portion of said conveyer (see Figure 14).

The means for holding fsaidielevating portion of said conveyer in various positions of vertical adiustment includes a pair. of arms II, II," Fpiv- ':frame lll. v;fluid'cylinders 9, I20 connected betygenthe forupwardl therefrom. The :free end of each :llhas-a bolt' ll mounted therein, which (bolt has -a T -shaped inner end, engaging l8. "gibbed slot n,

formed. in'aholding member It, secured to the outside of said elevating frame. Tightening ofa unutll .on'the end of said bolt serves to tighten asaid-sboltagainst said slotand to hold said elevating'iframe int-adjustment.

drive from the rear end of the motor 35 to v the chains II; "ll of the conveyer til includes an v armature pinion I! on the rearend of .the shaft of said motor (see Figure 6). Said armature pinion meshes with a spur gear N on the rear end of a longitudinally extending'shaft I, which is Journaled in a housing 2 secured to and proiectingwrearwardly from" the rear end of the casing' "for 'said motor (see 'Figures 6 and '8). bevel pinion '"is keyed'on-said longitudinal shaft and meshes with and drives a bevel gear I ll, journaled-onits hub in saidhousing ll. A suitable has a bevel pinion I" 'keyed to its outer end.

which is ,Journaled on its hub in a housing IN.

A bevel pinion ill Joumaled on its hub in said housing meshes with and is driven from said :bevel pinion III. A splined shaft I" is keyed to the hub of said bevel gear and projects rearwardly therefrom. A sleeve "111s splined on said shaft andis ioumaled at its'forward end in a frame tion H of the conveyer,- for movement about an 'axis'coaxial with the transverse shaft ll (see Figure 8). .Said sleeve extends within the hub of a bevel pinion rl II which is keyed to anddriven from said sleeve. Said last mentionedbevel pinion meshes with and drives a bevel pinion Iii,

keyed to an-outer fend of the transverse :shaft IO, sfor rdriving saidhshaft and the discharge co'nveyer. a

The means for elevating the cutter frame I I and cutter bars H, H with respect to the front wheels 2|, 2! and .the rear wheels 26, 20 operates on principles similar to the elevating mechanism shown and disclosed in Patent No.- 2,220,274,

which issued :to 'T. E. Prayon November '11, v1940,-

so willnot herein be shown or described in detail. As herein shown, each wheel su rting frame f29,2l and 2|,2I has an independently operable :the-rsame and :include .a pair of longitudinally spaced-fluid pressure cylinders ill, I ll connected between the forward end of each fronts-wheel supporting frame 29 and the cutter frame Ill and a pair of rearwardly spaced fluid pressure cylin- :ders HI and ill'connected between the rear .end

of each wheel supporting frame 29 and'the cutter They also include a similar pair of ward end of each rear wheel supporting frame'tl andthe cutter'frame l0 and a pair of fluid cylin I ders I, I22 connected between the rear end of each rear wheel supportingtframe strand the cutter frame 'I ll.

iEach forward wheel supporting frame 29 is provided-with anupright guide portion I23 extendcuttings passageway I3 4- ingalong the cutter frame I0, just outside of the and engaging vertically extending gibbedguides I24, I24 at its opposite ends. A forward guide member ing gibbed guides I26, I26, ,hereln shown as being formed integrally with a block I21 for the cylinders III and I. A rear guide member I 29 extends upwardly from the wheel supporting frame 29 and. is shown as having slidable engagement with facing guides I30, I30, herein shown as being formed integrally with a block I3I for the cylinders H5. H6. j

The guiding connection between the rearwheel supporting frame ill and the cutter frame I is similar to the guiding connection between the front wheel supporting frame 29 and said cutter frame and includes an upright guide I33 extendingv upwardly from the top of said rear wheel housing and along the inside thereof and engaging facing gibbed guides I34, I34, herein shown as extending outwardly from the casing for the motor 35 (see Figures 1, 2 and 8). A guide member I36 is provided adjacent the forward portion of said wheel supporting frame and extends vertioally therealong and upwardly beyond the upper end thereof and is adapted to be engaged by facing gibbed guides I31, I31, herein shown as being formed integrally with a block I39 of the forward cylinders II9, I20. In a similar manner an upright guide member I40 is provided adjacent the rear andof said wheel supportingframe and'is slidably engaged by facing gibbed guides I4 I, I, herein shown as being formed integrally with a block I43 for the cylinders I2I, I22.

The cylinder II3 has a'piston I44 therein having a piston rod I45 extensible therefrom. Said piston rod has an enlarged upper end as indicated by reference character I46, which has an engaging member I41 mounted thereon. Said engaging member engages the underside of a foot I48, projecting outwardly fromthe cutter frame I0. The other cylinder II4 has a piston I49 slidably mounted therein with a piston rod I50 depending therefrom and secured at its lower end to a bracket II', projecting inwardly from the wheel housing 29. Fluid under pressure enters the cylinder I I3 adjacent its lower end, to move the piston I44 upwardly therealong, and atthe same time enters the upper end of the cylinder I I4 through a passageway I52. When said piston I44 reaches the extreme end of its travel, fluid engaging the upper end of the piston I49 will cause the cylinder H4 and cylinder block I21 to,move vertically along the piston rod I50, to elevate said cutter frame to its extreme vertical position.

The rear cylinders H5, H6 inthe block I3I have suitable pistons (not shown) mounted therein, which are constructed same manner as the pistons I44 and I49, and the principle of operation of said rear cylinders and pistons is the same as said forward cylinders and pistons,-so willnot herein be shown or described in detail, itbeing understoodthat fluid is admitted to or released from the cylinders II5 andIIIi simultaneously with the admission to, or the release of fluid from the cylinders H3 and H4.

The cylinders II9, I and I2I, I22 and the piston rods extensible therefrom supporting the rear end of the cutter frame on the rear wheel supporting frames 3I, are of the same construction as the cylinders H3, H4 and H5, H6 and their associated piston rods, and serve to elevate or lower the rear end of the cutter frame simultaneouslywith the elevation or lowering of the forward end of said cutter frame in the same man- I engages fac-.

- in'g member I62,

and arranged in-the v 7 wheel '25, and

outer periphery of of a vertical shaft assaoes ner as' said forward cylinders III, H4 and III, H6 and their associated pistons and piston rods. Said rear cylinders and their operative supporting connection between their associated frames 3|, il'and the cutter frame I0, thus need not' herein be shown or described in detail.

The valves for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to the cylinders I I3, II4, I I6 and I I6 and for holding pressure therei to hold the cutter bars at any desired cutting height, may be so arranged as to permit the simultaneous admission of fluid to all of the elevating cylinders, to elevate said cutter bars in a plurality of parallel planes, or to admit fluid to o'r'releas'e it from the cylinders associated with either the front or rear wheel supporting frames to tilt the cutter bars about either the front or rear wheels. Said fluid control valves may also be so arranged as to admit fluid to or release it from the cylinders associated with the wheel supporting frames 29 and 3| on one side or the other of the machine to tilt the cutter bars about the supporting wheels 25, 26 on either side of the machine.

Referring now in particular to certain novel details of the drive to the front and rear rubbertired supporting wheels and the mounting of the wheel supporting frames in their respective housings, together with the means for turning said wheel supporting frames and wheels by power, for steering the machine, the wheel housing 21 is provided with a hollow boss I6I projecting upwardly from its upper end, which is journaled :in a bearformed integral with the upper side of the wheel supporting frame 28 (see Fis- ,ure 9). The axis of pivotal connection of'said wheel housing to said wheel supporting frame is herein shown as being coaxial with the vertical center of thewheel 25. The lower portion of said wheel supporting frame is of an enlarged arcuate formation and extends within a horizontal arcuately formed gibbed guide I63, formed integrally with the lower portion of the wheel supporting frame 20. The arc of said gibbed guide is cast from the turning center of said front said guide is engaged bya guide strip I66, secured to an inwardly projecting arcuately formed portion of said wheel housing 21.

The means for turning said wheei housing by power includes an arcuate rack I61 secured to the the inner side of said'wheel housing, above the axle 20 of the wheel 26. Said rack is meshed with I69, which shaft is journaled adjacent the upper end of said pinion in a' bearing boss I10, formed integral with said wheel supporting frame. A bevel pinion I1I is keyed to the upper end of saidshaft and journaled on its hub in said bearing boss. Said bevel pinion is meshed with and driven from a bevel gear I13, journaled on its hub in said wheel supporting frame and keyed on the forward end of a horizontal shaft I15, journaled in said wheel supporting frame. Said horizontal shaft extends rearwardly from said bevel pinion I1I in an angularly outward direction and has a bevel-pinion I16 keyed to its rear end. Said last named pinion meshes with and is driven from a bevel pinion I11 on the lower erxlofa vertical shaft I19 (see Figure 4). Said bevel pinion I11 is journaled on its hub in a bearing boss I formed integral with said wheel supporting frame and is driven from a worm gear 'I8I keyed to the upper end of said vertical shaft a pinion I66 on the lower end :motor ll! through a spur gearreduction train formed in said wheel supporting frame beneath said fluid pump and electric motor (see Figure 4).

The wheel 2| is mounted on the wheel housing on the axle 2| on bearings Ill and Ill. Said axle is herein shown as being mounted in and projecting from an outwardly extending axle portion "2, herein shown as being formed integral with said wheel housing (see Figure 9). A bevel vating cylinders H2, Iii, ill and ill of the same wheel supporting frame, includes the pump I" which takes fluid from the fluid storage tank I". From said pump fluid passes to an overload pressure relief valve 2 I! through a pipe 2, and

out from said relief valve through a pressure pipe 211 leading to a valve 2I2, for supplying fluid under pressure thereto. A pipe 2" connects the ear III is secured to said wheel and is meshed with a bevel pinion ill Journaled in a bearing bracket I", formed integral with the wheel supporting frame 21. Said bevel pinion is keyed to the lower end of a vertical shaft I21, journaled in said wheel housing and having a spur gear 198 keyed to its upper end. Said spur gear meshes with and is driven from a spur gear 200, keyed to a vertical 'shaft 2", which shaft is mounted coaxial with the vertical center of the boss II I, and is keyed to a depending hub of a worm gear 202, iournaled'on its hub in said boss. A worm 2'2 meshes with said worm gear and is driven from a motor 2" through a spur gear reduction train 2". Said motor 2" may be of any wellknown form, but is herein shown as being a fluid motor of a well known reversible type.

The rear wheels 2|, 2l'are mounted in the wheel housings II, 30 in the same manner the front wheels vare mounted in their wheel housings 21, 21. 'said rear wheel housings are also mounted in the wheel supporting frames 2 I', ii in the same manner the front wheel housings 21, 21

are mountedin the wheel supporting frames 22,

22, so the detailed construction of said wheel mountings will not herein be shown or described in detail. Each rear wheel supp rting frame II is provided with a fluid pump 2 driven by an electric motor 2 il. Said pump supplies fluid under pressure'tothe cylinders III, l2. and HI, I22

for elevating the rear end of the cutting element and also supplies fluid under pressure to. a fluid motor 2| i, which rever'sely turns said wheel housing about a vertical axis for steering the rear wheel. Bal pump also supplies fluid under pressure to a fluid motor 2l2,.which drives the rear wheels in the same manner the fluid motor 2" drives the front wheels. The geared reduction drives from said fluid motors, for driving and steering the rear wheels, are the same as the drives for driving and steering the front wheels,

.so will not herein be shown or described in detail. The fluid control valves and piping to the fluid motors III, 2", 2H and 2l2 maybe so arranged that each wheel may be driven independently of the other in either a forward or a reverse direction' and may be turned independently of each other in one direction or the other, and so that all the wheels may be driven or turned-simultaneously, if desired. so that the machine may be driven in a forward or rearward direction and may also be driven laterally acres the coal face and withdrawn therefrom, in a simplified manner.

The fluid .control system shown in Figure 18 for supplying fluid under pressure to the steering motor 2" and the associated traction motor III of one wheel supporting frame, and to the eleher the motor I" is protected through said valves, to and through a return pipe 222, to the fluid storage tank I. Said valves may be balanced four-way piston valves connected in series so that the return fluid from one valve will supply pressureto the next valve, as disclosed in the Sloane Patent No. 2,354,336, and are no'part of my present invention, so will not herein be shown or described in detail. Each of said valves is herein shown as being operated by means of two opposed solenoids 22' and 221.

The valve 222 has connection with the steering motor 2" through pipes 220 and 2. When said valve is moved to one extreme position by means of its solenoid 228, fluid wfll flow from the pressure pipes 2H and 2!! through the pipe 220,

to drive said motor in one direction, and will be exhausted through the pipe 2, and through the pipe 222 to the tank I". When said valve is moved to an opposite open position by means of its solenoid 221, fluid under pressure will pass through the pipe 23f to drive the motor 2" in a reverse direction, and will be exhausted through the pipe 232 and the pipe 222.

In a like manner, the valve 220 is connected with the motor I", to drive said motor in reverse when overload conditions are reached in the cylinders H2, H4, H5 and Ill, fluid will pass by said relief valve to the valve 222.

by a relief valve 222 connected between the pressure and exhaust sides of the valv 220, and the motor 2" is protectedby a relief valve 2 connected between the pressure and exhaust sides of the valve 222.

The solenoids 228 and 221 for each valve may be controlled by electric switches on a central control panel indicated generally by reference character 221. It should here be understood that each wheel unit is provided with a hydraulic circult as described, and that the switches for controlling the energizing of the solenoids for the valves for each hydraulic circuit may be on one central control panel. These electric control switches may be so arranged as to be operated individually, or certain of said switches may be connected to be operated simultaneously or independently, to permit independent or simultaneous operation of the wheels, and independent or simultaneous operation of the elevating means on each wheel supporting frame, so the cutter bar may be elevated in a plurality of parallel lnalikeman other.

Referring now in particular to Figure 15, illustrating one manner in which the machine of my invention may cut across .a coal face, the machine may first .be moved up to the coal face on its supporting rubber-tired wheels, driven by the motors 205, 205 and H2, 2, until the end of the cutter bars are adjacent the coal face and the right-hand rib, designated as position A in this figure. The front and rear wheels may then be turned by the fluid motors I85, I and 2H, 2 until they are substantially parallel to the coal face. If the cutting is soft, the cutter bars may be sumpedinto the coal face solely by operation of the fluid motors 205, 205 and H2, H2. Where, however, the cutting is relatively hard, one flexible feeding member 34, usually the lefthand feeding member, may be trained forwardly from its feed drum and its free end maybe anchored adjacent the coal face. Power may then be applied to said feed drum, to feed the cutter bars into the coal face independently of or sigilgltmeously with said fluid motors 205, 205 and When the cutter bars ll, Ii have been sumped into the coal face for substantially the full cutting depth of said cutter bars, the front and rear wheels may be turned to bring the cutter bars at substantially right angles to the coal face for cutting thereacross,- as in position B in hand flexible feeding member 34 may be trained forwardly from its winding drum 33 around a Where,

, cific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may guide 2| 3 formed in the wheel housing 29 and illustrated in Figures 4 and 7. From thence it may be trained laterally from the left-hand side of the machine and may be anchored at its free end in a suitable manner. Power may then be applied to said cable to feed the machine across the coal face, the wheels 25,25 and 20, 20

being substantially parallel to the coal face during this operation. When the machine has traveled entirely across the coal face, the wheels may be turned so as to be parallel to the coal rib to position the machine for withdrawal, as in position C in Figure 15. The-machine may then be withdrawn from the face by the fluid motors 205, 205 and H2, H2, the flexible cables usually not being necessary for withdrawing the machine from the face as it is cutting, even where the cutting is relatively hard.

Where it is desired to cut out and load the entire seam, and three cutter bars are used and the coal seam is thicker than the distance from v the lower cutter bits on the lower cutter chain [2 to the upper cutter bits of the upper cutter be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1 In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a pair of front rubber-tired wheels and a pair of rear rubber tired wheels for supporting said frame, all of said wheels being pivoted for movement about vertical axes for supporting said frame and cutter bar for movement longitudinally of or across a coal face, and power drive connections for driving said wheels in all positionsof adjustment thereof about said vertical axes.

2. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a pair of front rubber-tired wheels and a pair of rear rubber-tired wheels, for supporting said frame, all of said wheels being pivoted for movement about vertical axes, for supporting said frame and cutter bar for movement across a coal face, power drive connections for driving said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes, and flexible feeding means auxiliary to said wheels, for feeding said kerf-cutting machine on said wheels transversely across a coal face. I A

3. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a plurality of wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, power means for driving said wheels, 9. vertical pivotal support mounting for each of said wheels, permitting said wheels to be turned for supporting and moving said frame longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross.

4. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a plurality of wheels for chain l2, the cutter bars are first elevated and Y the top portion of the seam is first cut out and loaded. They are then lowered and another cut is made across the coal face to cut and load out the remainder of the seam, it being understood that the conveyer i6 is in operation during the entire cutting operation.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the spesupporting said frame for movement along the ground, power means for driving said wheels. a

vertical pivotal support mounting for each of said wheels, permitting said wheels to be turned for supporting and moving said frame longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross, and flexible feeding means auxiliary to said power means, for feeding said cutter bar on said wheels longitudinally into and transversely across a coal face.

5. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof in relatively rigid relation with respect thereto, a plurality of rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, a vertical pivotal support mounting for each of said wheels, means for turning said wheels about said vertical axes for supporting said frame for movement longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross, and power drive connections to said wheels, for driving said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes.

6. In a kerf-cuttingmachine, an elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forwardend thereof, in relatively rigid relation with respect thereto, a plurality of rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, a vertical pivotal support mounting for each of said wheels, permitting said wheels to be turned for supporting said frame for movement longitudinally with respect to a coal face r transversely thereacross, power drive connections to said wheels, for driving said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes, and flexible feeding means auxiliary to said wheels for feeding said gutter bar into and transversely across a coal ace.

7. In a ker'f-cutting machine, an .elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, in relatively rigid relation with respect thereto, a plurality of rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, a vertical pivotal mounting for each of said wheels. permitting said wheels to be turned for supporting said frame for movement longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross, and independent drive connections to each of said wheels for independently driving each of said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof, about said vertical axes.

8. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame having a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, in relatively rigid relation with respect thereto, a plurality of rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, a vertical pivotal mounting for each of said wheels, permitting said wheels to be turned for supporting said frame for movement longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross, and independent drive means for each, of saidwheels for independently driving each of said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes, comprising a separate drive motor for each of said wheels. I

9. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame having a, cutter bar projectingfrom the forward end thereof, in relatively rigid relation with respect thereto, a plurality of rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame for movement along the ground, a vertical pivotal support mounting for each of said wheels, permitting said wheel, said wheel housing forming an axle support for said wheel, a motor, a geared drive connection from said motor to said wheel for driving said wheel in all positions of adjust- .ment thereof about said vertical axis, and means axle support therefor, said wheel housing having wheels to be turned for supporting said frame for movement longitudinally with respect to a coal face or transversely thereacross, independent drive means for each of said wheels for independently driving each of said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes comprising a separate drive motor for driving each of said wheels, and flexible feeding means auxiliary to said drive'motors, for feeding said cutter bar longitudinally into and transversely across a coal face.

10. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a pair of front rubber-tired wheels and a pair of rear rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame, and a support mounting for each of said wheels including a separate wheel housing forming an axle support for each of said wheels and mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis intersecting said wheel, a motor, a geared drive connection [from said motor to said wheel for driving said wheel in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axis, and means for turning said wheel housing about its axis of pivotal connection to said frame for steering said associated wheel.

11. In a kenf-cutting machine, an elongated frame, a. cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a pair of front rubber-tired wheels anda pair of rear rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame, and a support mounting for each of said wheels including a separate wheel housing forming an axle support for each of said wheels and mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis intersecting said a portion journaled in said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and having an enlarged arcuate portion slidably guided in said frame and forming a guide and support means therefor, and means for turning said wheel and wheel housing about said vertical axis including a motor and power drive connections from said motor to said wheel housing.

13. In a kerf-cutting machine, an elongated frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, a pair of front rubber-tired wheels and a pair of rear rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame, and a support mounting for each of said wheels including a separate wheel housing for each of said wheels and forming an axle support therefor, said wheel housing having an upright boss journaled in said frame for mounting said wheel housing in said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and having a downwardly spaced enlarged arcuate portion slidably guided in said frame and forming a guide and support means therefor, and means for driving said wheel including a motor, and a geared drive connection from said motor to said wheel housing for each of said wheels and forming an I -axlesupport therefor, said wheel housing having an upright boss journaled in said frame for mounting said wheel housing in said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and having a downwardly spaced enlarged arcuate portion slidably guided in said frame, means for driving said wheel including a motor and a geared drive connection from said motor to said wheel including a vertical shaft extending through and journaled in said boss, and a power drive connection to said wheel housing for turning said wheel and wheel housing about said vertical axis.

15. In a kerf-cutting machine, a frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof,

, and means for supporting said frame for first sumping said cutter bar and then moving said cutter bar across the coal face without stopping the cutting operation including two front supporting wheels and two rear supporting wheels, supportingconnections'between said wheels and said frame, mounting all of said wheels for pivotal movement about vertical axes, means for turning said wheels about said vertical axes to cause said wheels to support and guide said frame for movement perpendicularly of and longitudinally across a coal face in a continuous operation,

and means for driving at least two of said Wheels I by power, for feeding said frame longitudinally of or transversely across a coal face.

16. In a kerf-cutting machine, a frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, and means for supporting said frame for first sumping said cutter bar and then moving said cutter bar across the coal face without stopping the cutting operation including two front sup-- porting wheels and two rear supporting wheels, supporting connections between said wheels and said frame, mounting all of said wheels for pivotal movement about vertical axes, means for turning said wheels about said vertical axes, and

power drive connections for driving said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes, to cause said wheels to feed said cutter bar perpendicularly into a coal face and then longitudinally thereacross in a continuous cutting operation.

17. In a kerf-cutting machine, a frame, a cutter bar projecting from the forward end thereof, andmeans for supporting said frame for first sumping the cutter bar and then moving the cutter bar across the coal face without stopping the cutting operation including two front supporting wheels and two rear supporting wheels, and

- supporting connections between said wheels and said frame mounting all of said wheels for pivotal movement about vertical axes, means for turning said wheels about said vertical axes, power drive connections for driving said wheels in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axes, and flexible feeding means auxiliary to said wheels for feeding said kerf-cuttlng machine on said wheels into and transversely across a coal face at the speed of travel of said the ground in longitudinal and transverse directions including a pair of front rubber-tired wheels and a pair of rear rubber-tired wheels, and a support mounting for each of said wheels including a separate wheel supporting frame for each wheel, a wheel housing forming an axle support for each of said wheels and mounted on said wheel supporting frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a motor mounted'on said wheel supporting'frame, a geared drive connection from said motor to said wheel for driving said wheel in all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axis, and meansHself-containedon each wheel supporting frame for turning said associated wheel housing about its axis of pivotal connection to said wheel supporting frame, for steering said associated wheel. I

20. In a self-propelled vehicle, a frame, means for supporting said frame for movement along the ground in longitudinal and transverse directions 19. In a self-propelled vehicle, a frame, means I including two front rubber-tired wheels and two rear rubber-tired wheels, and a support mounting for each of said'wheels including 'a separate wheel supporting frame for each wheel, a wheel housing forming an axle support for each of said wheels andmounted on saidwwheel supporting frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and means self-contained on each wheel supporting frame for turning-said associated wheel and wheel housing'about said vertical axis including a motor and power drive connections from said motor to said wheel housing.

21. In a self-propelled vehicle, a frame, means for supporting said frame for movement along the ground in longitudinal and transverse directions including two front rubber-tired wheels and two rear rubber-tired wheels for supporting said frame, and a support mounting for each of said wheels including a separate wheel supporting frame for each wheel, a wheel housing forming an axle support for each of said wheels and mounted on said wheel supportingframe for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a motor mounted on said wheel supporting frame, a geared drive connection from said motor to said wheel for driving said wheelin all positions of adjustment thereof about said vertical axis, and means -self-contained on each wheel supporting frame for turning said associated wheel and wheel housing about said vertical axis including a motor and power drive connections from said 'motor to said wheel housing.

EDWARD J. DOBERSTEIN. 

